Key information

  1. Status: Approved for delivery (available for starts)
  2. Reference: ST0187
  3. Version: 1.2
  4. Level: 3
  5. Typical duration to gateway: 18 months
  6. Typical EPA period: 2 months
  7. Maximum funding: £9000
  8. Route: Legal, finance and accounting
  9. Integration: None
  10. Date updated: 14/03/2025
  11. Approved for delivery: 27 August 2015
  12. Lars code: 32
  13. EQA provider: Ofqual
  14. Review: this apprenticeship will be reviewed in accordance with our change request policy.

Contents

Contents

Apprenticeship summary

Overview of the role

Providing information on pensions schemes for an organisation's employees or clients.

Occupation summary

The pensions administrator is found in organisations of all shapes and sizes that operate or oversee pension schemes or plans.

The broad purpose of the pensions administrator is to provide support when selecting and running  pension schemes or plans. 

Pensions administrators play a critical role in managing the day-to-day operation of pension schemes or plans. They are likely to be involved in a variety of tasks supporting more senior administrators.

A pensions administrator will be involved in producing quotations and setting up benefits for members or plan holders. These may include retirement, death and leaving service before retirement. They will also administer transfers into or out of the pension scheme or plan. As part of their administrative role the pensions administrator will also undertake financial tasks. These may include maintaining pension scheme cash books; reconciling bank statements and preparing cash-flow forecasts. They will ensure that customers receive accurate data on their pension position by collating data and drafting Administration Reports for clients .  As part of providing an excellent customer service the pensions administrator maintains and updates member records. These could include salary data, changes of address or marital status. They respond to pension scheme or plan specific enquiries from members or plan holders, including fund valuation requests and data on investment options. They will clarify the benefits payable under the pension scheme or plan and interpret relevant pension scheme or plan data and benefits payable.  

A pensions administrator will work with multi-grade teams and will typically work under supervision by a more senior administrator. They will be responsible for managing their own workloads but will not manage others.

Typical job titles include:

Finance worker Pensions administrator Workplace pensions administrator

End-point assessment summary

ST0187, Pensions administrator level 3

This is a summary of the key things that you – the apprentice and your employer need to know about your end-point assessment (EPA). You and your employer should read the EPA plan for the full details. It has information on assessment method requirements, roles and responsibilities, and re-sits and re-takes.

What is an end-point assessment and why it happens

An EPA is an assessment at the end of your apprenticeship. It will assess you against the knowledge, skills, and behaviours (KSBs) in the occupational standard. Your training will cover the KSBs. The EPA is your opportunity to show an independent assessor how well you can carry out the occupation you have been trained for.

Your employer will choose an end-point assessment organisation (EPAO) to deliver the EPA. Your employer and training provider should tell you what to expect and how to prepare for your EPA.

The length of the training for this apprenticeship is typically 18 months. The EPA period is typically 2 months.

The overall grades available for this apprenticeship are:

  • fail
  • pass
  • merit
  • distinction

When you pass the EPA, you will be awarded your apprenticeship certificate.


EPA gateway

The EPA gateway is when the EPAO checks and confirms that you have met any requirements required before you start the EPA. You will only enter the gateway when your employer says you are ready.

The gateway requirements for your EPA are:

  • achieved English and mathematics qualifications in line with the apprenticeship funding rules
  • for the professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio, you must submit a portfolio of evidence

Assessment methods

Multiple-choice test

You will complete a multiple-choice test. It will be open book, meaning you can have access to some books or reference materials.
In the test you can have:

Apprentices may bring with them pens, pencils, erasers, and a scientific or accountancy calculator. Calculators must not emit audible tones or function as any other digital device. Apprentices must not have access to the internet for the duration of the assessment. This includes any potential technological, web-enabled sources of information such as, but not limited to, iPods, mobile phones, MP3/4 players, smart watches which have a data storage device.

The test will have 30 multiple-choice questions. You will have 60 minutes to complete it.



Professional discussion underpinned by a portfolio of evidence

You will have a professional discussion with an independent assessor. It will last 60 minutes. They will ask you at least 10 questions. The questions will be about certain aspects of your occupation. You need to compile a portfolio of evidence before the EPA gateway. You can use it to help answer the questions.


Who to contact for help or more information

You should speak to your employer if you have a query that relates to your job.

You should speak to your training provider if you have any questions about your training or EPA before it starts.

You should receive detailed information and support from the EPAO before the EPA starts. You should speak to them if you have any questions about your EPA once it has started.Reasonable adjustments

If you have a disability, a physical or mental health condition or other special considerations, you may be able to have a reasonable adjustment that takes this into account. You should speak to your employer, training provider and EPAO and ask them what support you can get. The EPAO will decide if an adjustment is appropriate.

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Employers involved in creating the standard: Barnett Waddingham, WTW, Mercer, PPF, Royal Mail, Cheshire and Chester Local Government, XPS

Version log

Version Change detail Earliest start date Latest start date
1.2 End-point assessment plan revised. 14/03/2025 Not set
1.1 Standard, end-point assessment plan and funding band revised but stayed the same. 12/08/2023 13/03/2025
1.0 Approved for delivery 27/08/2015 11/08/2023

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